In
recent times, I have read about National Servicemen
and the Vietnam War, in forums mainly, but also in
the occasional book, and I feel it is now time for
me to put forward the details as I saw them and
believe to be true.

In 1967 I was posted from Airborne Platoon to the
3rd Training Battalion (3TB) in Singleton NSW as an
Infantry Instructor. This was at my own request, as
I had completed my Instructors Course at the School
of Infantry at Ingleburn NSW, and to get promoted in
Airborne, you had to wait for someone to become
deceased.

I need to state here that I was promoted to Corporal
on march-in, bypassing the first tape, and became a
Sergeant within 18 months. During my stay at 3TB, I
was posted to 1 Platoon A Company, where I remained
during my tour of duty.

3TB had been set up specifically for the training of
'Nashos' (National Servicemen). Because of the
intensity of training, we had a high and regular
turn over of platoon commander's, so I frequently
found myself filling that roll as well as my own. It
is because of this that I feel qualified to make the
following observations.

On the day of march-in, buses would arrive with
recruits from all over the country, normally within
a 12-hour period. There was much confusion, shouting
and young men wondering what the hell they had
walked into. We actually sent some home again, as
the LMO (Local Medical Officer) had obviously been
'on the sauce' when doing the preliminary medical -
clubbed feet, a right hand with one finger and a
thumb, and one poor kid who had an epileptic fit on
the parade ground. After more medicals, jabs, and
the excitement of a trip to the Q Store
(Quartermaster's Store), we would shuffle them down
to the company lines. (It was quite challenging
trying to teach them to march on day one). I think
it would be appropriate to say here that the
stoicism and tenacity shown by those young men on
Day 1 should have told us that our job to train them
was not going to be as difficult as we thought.

I could recount lots about their training and
development but it is sufficient to say that at the
end of 12 weeks I was so proud my chest stuck out a
mile on the March Out Parade; it was obvious their
parents and families were equally as proud of them.
The true Australian grit and resilience were there
for all to see. Some went up the hill for Infantry
Corps Training while others went to the other Arms
and Services.

Generally I found the Nasho to be an enthusiastic
and capable soldier but a few rebelled. Whilst still
at Singleton on ONE occasion I had a digger who made
it clear to all, including the OC (Officer
Commanding) that he was not going to soldier for
anyone. I was told to take him back to the platoon
office and await further orders. During that time,
'said troopy' and I had a few heated words when I
did the unforgivable thing by offering to take my
shirt off so we could sort it out there and then. I
knew immediately that I had gone past the point of
no return, but to my surprise he put his hand out
and said:
"Sarg, if you're prepared to go to that length to
keep me here, I'll stay." He did and turned into a
good soldier

I did this work for two and a half years before
going to Vietnam myself as a reinforcement (Reo),
and thanks to Claude Ducker who nailed me at a FSB
(Fire Support Base) during a re-supply; I joined the
Tigers for the remainder of my tour.

I was posted to C Company 5RAR, but at the time 8
Platoon was without an officer or a sergeant. So
Jack Lake, the CSM, (Company Sergeant Major) got the
job, and I took over his duties for the rest of that
Operation. On return to the "Dat". I picked up my
gear from Reinforcement Wing and marched into 8
Platoon C Company. Some of my chickens had come home
to roost as a couple of my diggers were Nasho's that
I had put through Singleton. Here I need to say that
it never ever crossed my mind that there was much
difference between national servicemen and regular
reos, and I'm still a little surprised that this has
been mentioned, but in hindsight I can understand
where they are coming from as it was after all, a
huge change to their lifestyle and no amount of
training in such a short period of time could allay
all their fears.

Anyone who reads this, and served in South Vietnam,
will know that the mateship was second to none, and
I believe that it was that mateship that carried the
day for us all. As far as I was aware there was
certainly no discrimination at any time between the
nashos and the regulars.

The final chapter came when I was at 3RAR at
Woodside in South Australia when Gough Whitlam
abolished National Service in 1972-3. It was almost
an overnight thing, with the nashos given the
option: to complete their national service and take
the benefits that came with it, or leave immediately
and go free. Some stayed and some left, but I feel I
can say without any doubt, to those young men who
did their national service and served their country
so well during the Vietnam War:

YOU CAN LOOK ANYONE IN THE EYE, AND NEED NEVER TAKE A
BACKWARDS STEP, BECAUSE YOU WERE THE BEST.